General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Obama Promises Disappear from Web [View all]markiv
(1,489 posts)anyone else notice the paint on the word 'better' looks kinds fresh?
Yes, it was Squealer. A little awkwardly, as though not quite used to sup-
porting his considerable bulk in that position, but with perfect balance, he was
strolling across the yard. And a moment later, out from the door of the farm-
house came a long le of pigs, all walking on their hind legs. Some did it better
than others, one or two were even a tri
e unsteady and looked as though they
would have liked the support of a stick, but every one of them made his way
right round the yard successfully. And nally there was a tremendous baying
of dogs and a shrill crowing from the black cockerel, and out came Napoleon
himself, majestically upright, casting haughty glances from side to side, and
with his dogs gambolling round him.
He carried a whip in his trotter.
There was a deadly silence. Amazed, terried, huddling together, the an-
imals watched the long line of pigs march slowly round the yard. It was as
though the world had turned upside-down. Then there came a moment when
the rst shock had worn o and when, in spite of everything | in spite of their
terror of the dogs, and of the habit, developed through long years, of never
complaining, never criticising, no matter what happened | they might have
uttered some word of protest. But just at that moment, as though at a signal,
all the sheep burst out into a tremendous bleating of |
`Four legs good, two legs better! Four legs good, two legs better! Four legs
good, two legs better!'
It went on for ve minutes without stopping. And by the time the sheep
had quieted down, the chance to utter any protest had passed, for the pigs had
marched back into the farmhouse.
Benjamin felt a nose nuzzling at his shoulder. He looked round. It was
Clover. Her old eyes looked dimmer than ever. Without saying anything, she
tugged gently at his mane and led him round to the end of the big barn, where
the Seven Commandments were written. For a minute or two they stood gazing
at the tatted wall with its white lettering.
`My sight is failing,' she said nally. `Even when I was young I could not have
read what was written there. But it appears to me that that wall looks dierent.
Are the Seven Commandments the same as they used to be, Benjamin?'
For once Benjamin consented to break his rule, and he read out to her
what was written on the wall. There was nothing there now except a single
Commandment. It ran:
ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL
BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS